Car-operated switching mechanism



De c. 11, 1928. 1,694,409

P.H.CRAGO CAR OPERATED SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Oct 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,409

P. H. CRAGO CAR OPERATED SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed 00t- 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Z PRU/m M WW Patented Dec. 11, 19.28. I I 1,694,409 uNirE srres FicE.

PAUL I-I. caaeo, or roans r HILLS BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGnoR TO THE UNION swirci-i & SIGNAL coMraNY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A coRPoRA= TION or PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-OPERATED SWITCHING MECHANISM.

Application filetl'October 7. 1926. Serial No. 140,029.

My invention relates to car operated contact 27; The relay Ris' so proportioned switching mechanisms, and particularly to that when the trolley wheel of a passing car car Controlled means for operating switches bridges the contactor C with the controller of i on electric railways. V the car in the on position, front contact 28 One object of my invention is to provide of the relay will be closed, but if theconmeans for controlling a standard switch and troller of the passing car is in the off posilock mechanism from a trolley contactor. tion the relay will not pick up and the I will describe three forms of'switching back contact 27 will remain closed. The reinechanisni embodying my invention, and will lay R has" such. characteristics that thefcur-v 10 then point out the novel features thereof in rent which it receives dueito current flowing claims. through the car auxiliaries (lights, heaters 5 In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a and air compressor) will be insuflic ient'to diagrammatic View showing one form ofcause it to pick up. r I i switch operating mechanismembodying my A neutral relay N has one of its terminals invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing grounded at 6, and the other connected to the modifications of the apparatus shown in Fig. strip 2 of contactor' Cthrough a high re- 1, and also e nbodying ny invention SlSttlIlCG 4 and 2], \VlI'G The relay hasan Similar reference characters refer to simarmature A to which are secured contact ilar parts in each of the several views. fingers 99 and -8 a l g detellt 20 Referring first to Fig. 1,the reference char- Also pivotally connected to armature A is a acter 1 designates a trolley conductor which link L having a slot 31 adapted to engage a is placed in proximity to an electric railway pin 32 on a pivoted arm 33. The arm 33 designated by the reference character T and & Contact fi g r 11, biased to the right having a turn-out to a-reverse route K conhand, or open position by a compression trolled by a switch S. The switch S is shown pring '34 but held normally closed by the in the normal position so that a car passing biased position of armature A. VVhenthe along the railway T in the direction shown relay N is energized, contact 11 occupies the by the arrow will continue on the main line. p n Positi n but when relay N is de-enerhen switch S is reversed a passing car will g Cl Con ac 11 is f 6d aga nst. the action 30 take the reverse route K. f he spring 34. 1 I The switch S is controlled by a motor M The contacts 27 and 2 0f the r y R which receives its energy from the conductor rol apolarized relay E; The relay E con- 1 under conditions which will be described Sists of three magnets 35, 36 and 37' which later. Associated with the "motor M and are arranged t actuate a P armature 35 switch S are-twomotor cut-out controllers O P. The coils ot magnets 35 and'37 are wound and N, Th ta t 20, 21 and 22 of the so that the armature P will'be attracted by controller 0 are closed at all times except C one of the magnets 35 or 37 is when switch S isin iull' normal position. energized. Undersome conditions it may Contacts 23, 24 and 25 of controller W are be desirable to provide the-magnet 36with a 40 closed at all times except when switch S is in permanent magnet core for the purpose of full reverse position. Y holding the armature P in the position to In order that the switch S 'may be conwhich it isslastmoved. The back Contact)? trolled by the operator oi a car without stop of. relay R" controls a circuit from conductor ping the car, a contactor Ois mounted near 1 througrti' hvire-8,"high'resistance {L3, contact but insulated from, the trolley conductor 1. 40, contact finger 30 of relay N, contact 41, Contactor C comprises two metal strips 2 wire 42and coils-35 and 36 of the relay E'tO and 2 arrangedto be bridged by the current ground at 38. When this circuit is closed the collecting means on a passing car. Thecurarmature P is attracted to the normal posirent collecting means is here shown as a tion, as shown in the drawing. The front wheel 3 although obviously other contact 28 of relay controls a circuit from may be used. conductor 1, through wire 8, high resistance 1 5 Connected between the conductor 1 and the 39, contact 44, contact finger 29 of-relay N, strip 2 at the contactor C is a current selective contact 45, wire 46 and coils 37 and 36 of rerelay R having a front contact 28 and back lay E to ground at 38. 'When this circuit is ,v v. o. closed the armatun mature A hand position. lVhenever tl s c uat d. di ate e i's z t n. oi the relay.

N; '7 'ra' 1 to the ariiiatureflfl When ai mature A drops, detent 7' locks armaI-' ture P in either position, to wlnch it has be n moved by the relay 1G,, Connected to the. v A I M 'wlieel3 bridgescontactor C. When the mo cncint con 10 em Qsiandeii or controlling the circuits of the motor M. \Vhen thespri-ngslS and-115 of circuit "controllersX- and Y- respectinely,occupytheirrighthand positions, asshowmgacircuit is closed through the motor M-dn' one clirectionyan'd when the springs 18' and -occupy their left-hand positions-ya circu'itttor the motor M is closed ll'l thG BQVQDSGKEIGCQQI].. w

The motor -M may be sup plied with current from' a -sepa'rate source 0t either alternating or directeurrentbut is here shown as being supplied with current 'from'the trolley conductorlloymeans of-a potentiometer connection on a resistance 9. The resistance 9-has one end connected-to the conductorl through a wire 8', the otherend being grounded at 48. hen the relayis de-renergized with the armature B occu pying its --normal --position, and-with switch Sin such positi on that contacts20,-*21 and 22 of cutout contro'llerO- are closed, current will flowtrom the trolley conduetori 1* through wire 8, resistance-9, contact 10, contact'finger 11, contact 12, winding 13 ofcircuit breaker B, Vi-r6114, spring- 15 of circuit controller; Y, wi're 16, armature of motor; M,' wire '17,-spring 1801f circuit controller 'X',wire 19, contacts 20,121 and -22 of cut-outcontro'llerO ancl;tield winding F of motor M to ground at 50; When P-occupies its reverse position with the switch S in'such position that contacts 23, 24 and 25 of the cut out controller W areclosed current will flow from the-trolleyconductor 1 througliwire 8,- resistance 9', contact-10,contact'finger 11, con-- tact '12, Winding 13 of circuit-breaker 13', wire 14, spring 18ofcircuit-controller X, wire 17;

' armature 01511101301 M','wire' 1G,spring 15' ot- V clrcult controllerY, wire 26, contacts 25, 24L- and-23ot-cut-out controller \V. and fieldwind-- the'art and forms no ipart otmy invention it will-loo su-fiieient to state that" the armature Willleo attracted to raise the link L, releasing the slot 3th from the pin 3%011411'11'1 33 and thus allowing spring 34: to open-the contact finger flow throu gh winding 13 wNVith normal currenfifiowifigthe parts occupy the positions in Which-tliey are-shown. 7 i p In tracing the operation of the switching 3 mechanism;willassuihetlii t illip'a ithe T in: thefdir ection indicate l arrow? If the operator of the'c'ar lei toward its reverse position.

, ccupy the normal position shown in the drawing and that a car is approaching the switch S on li y tlie es to take the reverse route he leaves-them controller tothe onf position lie'torc the trolley V trolley wl eel 3 bridges the strips and 2, the V finger connects contacts au a-tidalandcon? tact finger 29 connects, contacts. a it and :4 51 The current which .fiows through. rel ay R under these conditions is the current tonrelay N, the current: .f'olilcarauxiliaries and. the car operating current, which, due to tlw adjust ment of relay R, will causeitto be r d up ZUIdQCiOSUlQ' ItS "rent contact Current will now; How from the trolley I conduc 1 through wire 8,1t'rontcontact 28 of relay it, resistance 39-, contact 44,: 1 contact nger .29, contact 45, wireelfi, andimagnets 3'71 and 36. ground at-v38. lWienthiscircuitis closed the magnet 31 attracts armature, P which has heenpr-e'viouslyunlocked by energizatigon; oi c relayN, and :eircuit controllers X and Y re thrown;tothei-lettrhand or reverse positir n. WVhen the trolley wheel '3leavesthe contacto r C,-rela'yN,is de-ene-rgized and detent i' locks armatur'e P in the reverse position. Contact finger;29is1releasedfromcontacts 44: and i5, contact finger30 isireleased; tromcontacts andz ll and thegcontact'finger 11 hridgescom tacts'10and 12. When the motor M starts to rotate it moves the cut-ou-tcontrollers O and VV to the midp'osition-and moves the switch hen the switch S reaches its tul'lreverse positionthecut-out controller, is opened to bnealcthe circuitt-oi;

It, wi-tlitheswitch S in its reverse position, another car; approaches the/sw tch S on the track .T' and the operatorI of the car wishes to fol-low themainronte, he moves the controller to the ofll; position. Whenthe trolley wheel 3 Strikes the contactor Ounderthese conditions,-n'o current will flow through relay R,

except. therein-rent for relay N and the current tor the-car auxiliaries, so that back contact27=Will-he closed to complete a circuit through the magnets 35 and 36, and throw armature P to the normal position. VVhen the armatureP moves to the normal position 7 the circuit controllers and Y are moved to the right hand-position so that current Will flow through the motor M in such direction as to-throw switch S to the normalposition as shown in the drawing. v

[If the operator of a'car desires to take the reverse, route when the switch S is already in the reverse position he moves the controller to the on positionbefore the trolley Wheel 3 armature P -.w;ill be swing to the right-hand 'tureP in its reverse position.

bridges the strips of contactor'C so that sutfi- I cient current will pass "through relay R to closethe front contact 28' of this relay; .Underthe'se conditionsthe front contact 28 of frelay Ris closed andjthe magnets 37 and 36 of relayE are energized to hold the arma- The contacts 25, 24 and 23 of cut-out controller W being open no current can besupplied to the motor tact 28 but energizes themagnets 35Eand 36 of relay E over back contact 27of relayR. Under these conditions the cut-out controller 0 remains in its openposition and no'cur- 'rent can be'supphed' to the motor M.

It will now be clear that theheavy' cu rent circuits are separated from the switchcontrolling -'mechanism and that false ope atlonis prevented by means of the polarized relay E which is locked in each position. It is also obvious that the resistors leading from the trolley conductor to the 1 switch operating mechanism may be mountedin any convenient place along the track and will fullypro- -tect the switch operating mechanism against 'BXCGSSIVG currents. Y

.. The modification shown in Fig. 2 is similar to the form shown in Fig. 1 except that the relay R has only a single frontfcontact 52,

neutral relay N carries only one spring finger 29 and polarized. relay E is controlled differently.

In-Fig. 2 the polarized relayfE has three magnets 56 and 62. Magnets andr56 are controlledby the contactor 52 ofr'elay R :overa-circuit froin'conductor. 1, wire 8, contar-L152? of relay resistance 53; .wire 54:, magnets 55 and 56 .to' ground at 57.' The magnet 56 may-have a permanent magnet core for holding the armature'Pineither position to which it is attractedm Magnet 62 is'opposite in-polarityito 1nagnet55-za1idiscontrolled by contact finger 29 of neutral rclay'N. The'circuitfor magnet 62 islfroin conductor 1, through .wire 8, resistance 58,

contact 59, contact finger 29 of'relay N,con-

tact 60 wire 61' andmagnet 62 to ground at 63; The magnetsi62g56: and 55 are so'a-rranged thatenergizatlon of magnet 62 will. attract the armature P to the normal position ,(as shownlabiit when magnets'55and 56 are energizedsnnultzmeoaslv, with 62 the or reverseposition; 1 Therelay B 1S adjusted sothat the current flowing -.through tl'ie auxiliaries on a passing car will not cause it to close itscontact v52 but if a greater current ,is flowing due to the car controller'being in the on position the contact 52 ill be closed.

The details of theoperation of the circuits shown in Fig. 2 will be understood from the description given in connection .with Fig. 1.

VVhen a car approaches the switch S in the 1 position shown the operator will approach the contactor C with the car-controller in the off position, if he Wishes to take the main line T. If he Wishes to take the reverse'route K he Will approach the contactor C with his controller. in the on position. If the switch S is in the reverse position, and the operator on an approaching jcar wishes to take the main line, he will approach the contactor C with thecar controller in the as position.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, the use of a current selective relay associated with the contactor C isavoided. Inthis'viewthe strip2 of contactor C is connected with new,

tral relayN through a resistance 4, as before, but the strip 2 is connected to theftrolley conductor-1 througha Wire 64:, inagnet165 of a polarizedrelay E and a wire 66..' i

The polarized relay E l'consists of three magnets 65 '5 and 76. Magnet 76 mayhave a permanent magnet core forholding the armature P' in either of itspositions; Magnet v6571scontrolled by thebridging of the strips 2 and 2 of contactor C by? atrol'ley-W-heel.

The magnet 65 is so arranged that the current drawn by the auxiliaries of. a passing car willnot be sufiicie'n't to actuate armature P from its normal 13081131011118 shown; but

when a greater current is drawn by thepassing car, magnet 65 WLll over balance the magnets and 76.vv Magnets 75 and 76"are con? trolled over contacts 70 and 71 of neutral relay N whichin this modification has only a single'contact finger 29. Thecircuit for magi nets75 and 76 with E in normal positioir is from trolley conductor 1, through wires '8" and 77. contact 71; contactfinger 29, contact 70, wire.69,fre 'nets75 and/T6 circuit 18 closed and 'current for theauxih sistances T2 and 73,- and mag? fiaries' only. of. a car is being. drawn from the conductor 1 the armature Pls heldm normal position. If a car passes alone withits-con troller lnthe onposition and bridgesstrlps .2 and "2,"the current through 65 will be .great enough to-sw1ng' the armature P to the reverse positlon against the action of".

magnets 75 and T6. The magnets75and 76 also have a branch circuit which'will bede scribed hereinafter.

'I The energization of magnet 6.5;is subject to considerable variation as the .auxihariesqof drtlerenta rsv may consume different amounts of current. I It isessential that thearmatureP and circuit controllersX Y and Zicontrolled thereby.pthrough lin'lct'l shall not be moved from normal to reverse position-by'tlieheaviest auxiliary current load of any car used over the switch S, and in order to prevent such is a false operation I connect the normalicontact relay. When the circuit controller Z is in the of circuit controller Z to the conductor 1. This connection provides-a branch circuit from-"conductor 1,.through wires 8 and 78, normal contact of circuit controller Z, wire 68, resistances 72 and I7 3, and magnets 75 and 7 6 togroundat 38. This circuit is closed at all 10 tiineswhen the armature isin its normal posit-ion and Wlll prevent false operation'of the reverse position this branch circuit is open and magnets 7 5 and 76-are energized only when neutral relay N closes. the contact -70 -29711as a resultofthe contactor C being bridged. In the reverse'position the circuit controller. Z also shuntsout the resistance 7 2,

by completing a circuit "from. conductor 1, through Wires'S and 77 contact 71, contact finger29, contact 7 0, wires 69 and 68, spring 67- of 'circuit controller Z, wire. 74, resistance 73, and-magnets 75 and76 to ground at 38.

' l Thisshnnting action, ,of-the circuit controller Z assists in throwing the armature P to normal position by' causing'a'heavier current to 1 sistance 9.

flowthrough magnets 75: and 76 at the begin-.

ning ofthe stroke when the air gap between 'magnet75 and armature P'is large.

7 ThernotorM is controlled I lsihereshown as being supphed'with current as in Fig. 1, and

by-meansot a potentiometer connection to re- The" operation of themechanism Fig. 3

is as follows: When a car approaches the switch .8 on track T with the switch in normal position and the controller of the-car in'the ,on position, thecurrent drawn by the car sets up aflux in magnet65 as soon as the trolley wheel bridges the contact strips 2 and 2* of contactor G. Magnets 75and 76 arealready energized over the circuitincludingthe V .n'ormalcontact of circuit'controller Z and the resistances 7 2 and 73. When relay N picks up another circuit for magnets 75 and 76 is comfpleted from conductor 1," through wires8 and theflux produced in magnetby the car auX- :77, contact 1;, contact finger 29," contact 7 0,

wire-69, resistances-72'and73, and magnets 75 and 7 (Mo groundat 38. ThisenergiZatiOn of magnets 75 and 76 is only suflicient to balance iliary current, hence thefinX due-to motor current in 65 will be suflicientto move'the'armm .ture P to thereverse position after the detent 37-is released by the energization ofneutral relay N. As soon as thear n'ature P commences --its-movement toward the reverse positionthe normal contact of circuit controller Z-is opened so that magnets '7 5'and7 G'remain 'en-.

ergiz edionlyluntil neutralrelay N releases its armature Aland contact finger 29Vdrops away a from contacts and 71. When the trolley wheel 3 leaves the contactor C the'detent 7 of armature A drops and locks the armature P in the reverse position, contact 10 -11-12 is scribed in connection withlFig. 1. 5

'comprisin closed and motor M is. operated: tothrow switch S to the reverseposition as already de- If another car approaches the switch S and the operator desires to return the switch to normal he operates hisca'r past thecontactor Cwith the controller in the off position so that only thecurrent due to-the carauxiliaries Y 7 passes through magnet 65. Since the resistance 7 2- 1s shunted by'c rcuit controller- Z a higher current will flow through 1nagnets17 5 and-76 during the beginningofthc stroke before the shunt is opened by circuit controller Z, and armature Pwill be thrown backto'the normalposition after the detent 7 is raised by energization'offrelay N. vAssoon as the shunt is opened the current for; magnets and'76 is-smaller because'it. passes through both resistances 7 2 and 7 3, but-it is still sufii-e i switch S reversed, had'desired to take the reverse route K he'wou'ld have operated-his car The-reversal of circuit control- 7 past the contactor Cvwith the controller in the onposition.

Should an operator find the switch in the Y normal positionand desire to stake the normal route The would operate his car past the con tactor C with the controllerin' the oif positionso that magnet 65would receive only the current due. to the car auxiliaries, hence armature Pwould not be moved;

-' Although I have herein shown and --described only a few forms of switching apparatus embodying my-invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritand scope ofmyinyention;

Iaving thus describ d my invention, what a 1. Acar controlled switching mechanism an energized conductor, a two-e 'part'contactor in spaced relation to the-colt ductor, a" current selective relay vconnected to onepart of'the contactor and to the condnctor, a polarized-relay having atwo-posi- "tionarmature which assumes one'position when 'the. current selective relay is traversed by current of one value and another ;posi-' 7' tion when the. current selective relay is traversed by a current of higherw' alue, and a switch actuating motor; controlled by the polarijzed relay when the, two partsof the contactor are bridged. r

p 2. A carcontrolled switchingfinechanism compris ng, an-energized conductor, a twopart contactor in spaced relationto the con-. ductor, a current selective relay-connected to one part of the contactor and to the conductor, and controlled in accordance with the strength of the current which flows through ranged to assume one position or theother when the parts of said contactor are bridged according as the current selective relay is energized or de-energized, a switch actuat ing motor, and means controlled by the polarized relay for controlling the motor.

4. A car controlled switching mechanism comprising, an energized conductor, a current selective relay connected to the conductor, a polarized relay having two circuits one of which is closed only when the current selective relay is energized and the other of which is closed only when the current selective relay is de-energized, a two-position armature for the polarized relay arranged to assume one position or the other according as the current selective relay is energized or fie-energized, and a switch actuating motor controlled by the polarized relay. 5. A car controlled switching mechanism comprising an energized conductor, a twopartcontactor in spaced relation to the conductor, a. current selective relay connected to one part of the contactor and to the conductor, a polarized relay having two. circuits controlled separately by the energization and deenergization of the current selective relay, a two-position armature for the polarized relay having its position determined by the condition of the current selective relay'when the two parts of the contactor are bridged, and a switch actuating motor controlled by the armature.

6. A car operated switching mechanism comprising, a two-part-contactor in spaced relation to the conductor, a currentselective relay connected to one part of the contact-or and to the conductor,atwo-position armature,

and means controlled by the current selective relay for shifting the said armature from one position to the other when the two parts of the contactor are bridged.

7. A car controlled switching mechanism comprising, an energized conductor, a twopart contactor in spacedrelation to the conductor, a-polarized relay liavinga movable armature, a locking device for the armature Y 8. A; carcontrolled controlled by the bridging of the parts of the contactoigand a switch actuating motor controlled-by the relay. 7 or f switching mechanism comprising, an energized conductor, a twopart coiitactor in spaced relation to the con-V ductor, a polarizedrelay having aftwo -position armature, a device for normally locking thearmat-ure'in either position and unlocking it only when the stripspf the co-nta ctor are bridged, a current selective relay connected to one part of the contactorand to the conductor for determining the position oft-he armature when the strips of the contactor are bridged, and a switch actuating motor con trolled by the armature. 1 i

9. A car controlled switching mechanism-j comprising, an energized conductor, a twopart contactor in spaced relation to the conductor, a polarized relay having a two-position armature. a device for normally locking the armature in either position, means controlled by the bridging ofthe parts ofthe cont actor for unlockingithe armature, and a switch actuating motor controlled by" the relay. i

'10. In combinatioma railway switch, an electric motor for causing reverse operations of said switch according as the motor is operated in one direction or the other, a polarized relay having an armature for causing operation of said motor in one direction or the other according as said relay is energized in one direction or the other, a conductor 'supplying propulsion current to the railway, and 111621I1S'f01 energizing said relay in one direction or the other from said conductor: ac-

ion

cording as a car isor is not drawing propulsion current from said conductor while approaching said switch.

11. In combination, a: railway switchfan electric motor for causing reverse operations of said switch according as the motor is operated in one direction ortheiother, means for opening the motor circuit when the movement of the switch to either posit-ion is completed,

a polarized relay having an armature for causing operations or sa d motor n one d rection or the other according as said relay is energized in one direction or the other, a

conductor supplying propulsion current to the railway, and means for energizing saidrelay in one direction or the other from said conductor according asa car is or is not drawing propulsioncurrentfrom said conductor while approaching said switch.

12.111 combination, a railway switch, an

electric motor for causing reverse operations of said switch according as the motor is operated in one direction or the other, a polarized relay-having an armature \Vll-lCh'lGVGISQS its] position according as said relay is energized inone direction or the ot-her, means for re-- versing the armature connections but not the field connect-ions to the motor when the armature of the relayis reversed, a conductor sup-. plying propulsion current'to the railway, and means for energizing said relay in onedire'ction or theother'frQm saidconduct or accordas'a' car is'or is not. drawing propulsion current-from said conductor whil approach i 'j swit s r'nblnat'ion; a railway switch, an o otr niotor for causing reverse operations of 'saidswitohaccording as the motor isopr a tod in' one dirotion or the, othor, means for opning tho nio t orcircuit when the movement, of the switch 'to {either position is 'conr 1 p edg app-01am having an urinaturo for ca-usin'gopration of said motor in one direct-ion or the other, according as said relay is energized in one direction or the other, aconductor supply ng propulsion cur rent to the railway, means for supplyingcurrent to the mot-or fronr saidconductor, and means for energizing said relay in one direction or the other from said conductor accordg ing 'asa cards or is not drawing propulsion current from sald conductor -While approach ing said switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature PAUL H. 0,; a 

